Straddle truck load receptacle



March 1, 1949. RB. SAVAGE 2,462,907

STRADDLE TRUCK LOAD RECEPTAGLE Filed March 21, 1946 INVENTOR. RALPH B. SAVAGE BY WWW 231M Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) I The invention described herein may be manuengage a load of timber or other type of bulky burden with its side angles or shelves. The mechanism for these shelves is such that it moves inwardly to engage the load and outwardly to disengage or dump it. The disadvantage of this type of truck is that it is limited to the class of load that it is intended to handle. This is a limitation on the practical use of the straddle type of trucks that cuts down their capacity for use considerably.-

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved load receptacle for straddle trucks that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a load receptacle that may be readily engaged and disengaged by a straddle truck and be capable of being used by itself during loading periods.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made to the appended drawings and the following description in which a type of the invention is indicated, by way of example, to illustrate the general form and use of the device, while the scope and spirit of the invention is more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a straddle truck, with parts broken away, supporting a load receptacle embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail in perspective of the load receptacle shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a sectional detail through a post used in the load receptacle shown in Figure 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar reference parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings a conventional type of straddle truck I is shown with its loading mechanism consisting of shelf angles ll operated by the supporting braces l2 and disposed adjacent to the straddle appendaged wheels. This operates in a conventional manner and is controlled by the operator in the cabin. A load receptacle iii l4 used with the truck so as to be straddled by the appendaged wheels I3 held by the shelves l I, rolled in and mounted within the frame. The receptacle consists of a container or chest preferably of rectangular form with its floor divided into two doors hinged at the lower edge of its longitudinal walls. The hinges I5 enable the doors 2! to be let down from the middle line so as to wholly dump the contents of the receptacle. The operation of the doors is provided for by two cables l6 passing longitudinally along their exterior surfaces as indicated. These cables are manipulated by a pulley and ratchet mechanism ll operated by a handle I8 on one end wall of the receptacle and adjustably control the amount of opening of the doors. The cables are terminated on the opposite end wall of the receptacle in staples 36. The height of the recep-' tacle is such that the floor doors 2| underneath may be fully opened without striking the ground on which the truck runs. Supporting posts are provided at the corners of the receptacle and at such other places along the longitudinal wall as may be desirable. These posts 20 are hollow and fit inside the receptacle as indicated in Figure 3. They contain a plunger leg 22 reciprocable within them. Each plunger leg is under pressure from an internal coil spring 23 in the post, that serves to project it downwardly or out of the post to a limited extent. Each leg is provided with a castor or ball 2d at its lower end to allow for movement of the receptacle across the floor with a relatively small amount of frictional resistance. The holes 3| in the walls permit air circulation through the device, lighten it, and show how it is filled.

In the operation of the device the receptacle is set in a convenient place to receive the various articles to be loaded therein through its open top. When it is filled suitably, it is rolled over towards the straddle truck, or the straddle truck is run over it. The legs 22 are resiliently extended out to their full limit of length and raise the receptacle to a height that will permit its ready positioning within the straddle legs of the truck. Pins 25 insertable through holes 26 in the post wall and recess 21 within the legs, serve as an adjustment and determine the distance that the receptacle can be supported off the floor. The straddle truck is positioned over the receptacle and its mechanism l2 and shelves I! adjusted to align with the bottom of the legs and under the casters. They are then operated to move inwardly in the conventional manner so as to engage under the bottom of angle bar 30 and to raise and carried by the straddle truck.

3 the receptacle off the floor so that it may be carried by the truck to another location.

The receptacle or chest is intended to hold and convey many kinds of materials when inclosed When it reaches a predetermined location, it -may be dumped"by"'openingthe floor doors'filgt without removaktrom th straddle or-ritimay be disengaged and left by the truck. The various adjustments in height of the receptacle. by then use of its particular legs serve to make it convenient for loading from different" platform levels. The resiliency of the legssdue toathe springs 23 enable it to be loadedwithless stress on theparts of the device -andsaving"in wear" and tear. The cable controls form a very con venient and simple mechanism for operating the doors that is not apt to sufferfromdirt and' grit or breakage, and when worn out'can-be-replaced cheaply and expeditiously. In general, it affords an arrangement that wilh hold: small bodiedmaiterial-hthat hasbe'en collected-in a c-hest; The materiar can be --r'ais'ed ofithe ground and -then carried ase a unit to another location where i it mayo-lie 'deposit ed as annit still or dumped out oi the chest V 7 With this invention; the-truck is not limitedto the picking-- un'of bulky loads. The swi-ftness'wl-th which this "type of -loadedreceptacle. canbe used withoa straddle bestows all the-advantages of this :type oftruck omthe handling of small pack-- ages and-loadings 1 having limited structural dimens'iens.---

The -rece-ptacle has anangle frame- 30 secured to" the'posts or structure onboth sides in-a-:Substantial manner I and is :-S arranged thatthe shelves H canslip under them- \vhen thecontainer isto beraisedw The position of the angles is such that it aligns with-the shelves H when the-straddletruclcisrun over the receptacle in straddle fashion,--and thereioreywllli be ableto .raise'it in this manner *whenplaced as-indicated inFigure--2. This leaves-the legs I and casters .on s'terrain until the-truck; lifts up the-con tainer. Actual-wane legs arelifted-about three-finches off the-floor. The resiliency otthelegs due-to the ooil sDring-s 23-pressesthe receptacle-up against "the tnuck'bodmwithout doing any damage to the truck which might occur -if--the Judgment 10f the operate; failed to control theoperation ofliftingt-mechanism accurately. This resiliency also helps to prevent the receptacle from being jarred loose or- -shaken as the truck passes over rough ground-land reduces the need for repairs thereon Number as well as to possible damage to the contents. The truck with the load is less noisy due to this lack of jarring. At the same time, the adjustment of the legs is just as adequate.

While there has been described what is at Dresent considered to be a new and improved embodiment of-thi dnvention; Will! beznoted that various changes- .and modifications may be made thereon without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, as sought to be defined in, the following claims.

L In astraddle truck having a load receptacle lifting mechanism positioned between the wheels of said truckia. load receptacle comprising, in combination, container means having a downwardly opening floor, means to vary the degree of 'the opening of said floor, means engageable by said lifting mechanism for lifting said receptacle and resilient leg means afilxed to said lead receptacle; 1 said latter omeams :having :means for adjusting the length of saidleg means-aud tor locking said leg means in predetermined mad m sitions.

A stra leuck load receptaclec mpr-ising, in eambinatiom an open top, plural walled container having a downwardly opening-fioor 'means tor-egulate the degree of said opening, alplurality of hollow vertical-eposts-raifixed tovthewalls of' said; container leg means slidablysdisposed within and extending. from; said -posts,; means. for adjusting and locking said-leg mean l-inpredetermined fixed positions v withinsaidposts and-shock absorbing means between:- said leg meansand thereof of said posts; 7

RALPH SAVAGE. 1

REFERENCES The following references are of rec'drd tln -the file of this .patents' m Date 1,443,594 'Saives Jam-.30, .1923 1,777,019: Samuels's'on a. 'Sept: 30,'-1930 1,990,538 Fi1cles 1Feb;.:12, .193 5 2,012,855 r Kjopshinsky- Auga'27, 1935 2,048,580 Webber July 21', 1935 2,071,503 Dalton Feb: 23,193? 2,225,076 1Vl0sher' Deer-17, 1940 2,266,866 Houston; -Dec. 23,1941 2,304,622 Barrett- Dec.:8,=l942 2,316,938 Dimick- -Apr-.-20,' 194:3 2,381,103 Briner Augi.7,'1945 

